Iran (MNN) — Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said over the weekend that a United States attack on Iran would result in a regional war. The statement came as the U.S. has strengthened its naval and air forces near Iran after weeks of deadly protests and government crackdown.
Despite the saber-rattling, the two nations appear to be edging toward resumed nuclear talks. Previous talks were effectively halted by the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.
Within Iran, the regime’s brutal response to protestors seems to have quieted the streets. Yet Edwin Abnous with Heart4Iran says, “The real battle for people’s hearts and Iran’s future is nowhere near over. The very pain that sparked this — the corruption, the hardship, the oppression — is still there.”
Anti-government protests first started December 28, 2025 over the plummeting value of the Iranian rial. (Stock photo of Iranian currency courtesy of Ashkan Forouzani via Unsplash)
Iran’s government has acknowledged over 3,000 deaths during anti-government protests. However, U.S. human rights activists have confirmed over 6,840 deaths, with thousands more reports being investigated.
“We may never know the full toll on this side of heaven, really, but every single life was someone God created, precious to Him, and He knows each name,” says Abnous.
“What I’m hearing from people inside [Iran] is a deep sadness mixed with stubborn hope. Many are crushed by deaths, brutality and now threats of more executions.”
At the same time, beautiful stories are coming out despite the darkness, says Abnous. Stories of “whole families coming to faith because they have had enough of this regime’s empty promises.”
“Believers [are] telling me they are praying boldly, sharing the gospel carefully, and sensing God’s presence with people on the streets in the middle of all this craziness.”
Iran needs more than one day’s worth of attention. Would you commit to pray for its people during February especially? Please pray daily.
“We’re witnessing terrible injustice, state-sponsored violence trying to break an entire society, targeting women, minorities, and believers. There are even reports of execution and intimidation meant to scare people into submission. The Book of Psalms gives us words to cry out about that,” says Abnous. (Consider Psalm 13.)
“We need to be praying for the comfort of grieving families and healing for the wounded people who have been shot on the streets.”
Pray also for courage for underground believers sharing the gospel. Also, pray for God’s will to be done in and among Iran’s leaders.
“They need Jesus, too. He tells us to pray for those who harm others,” says Abnous. “Please pray [that] this shaking leads to a great harvest — souls finding real life in Christ.”
(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)
Header image is a stock photo courtesy of Saba Ardani via Unsplash.
